Month: September 2015

On October 4, 2015 at 7:30pm, the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra will be sharing the stage of the Broadway Theatre with Juno Award-winning pianist and composer, David Braid. This concert will feature music by Braid as part of his Fall 2015 artist residency at the College of Arts & Science at the University of Saskatchewan.

After several years of seeing David Braid live in Saskatoon, this will be my first time performing with him. I can still remember the first time I saw Braid on a cold January evening at the Bassment jazz club in Saskatoon in 2011. Without really knowing who he was, I planned on writing a concert review on Braid’s performance for my Jazz Improv course at the U of S. I couldn’t believe how well his compositions seamlessly blended traditional jazz with his early classical training. Each piece had the presence of a vivid painting or a captivating novel and I was equally charmed by his humble personality when I spoke with him after the concert.

This upcoming concert with the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra will premiere a multi-movement suite for jazz orchestra, a piece for string orchestra and piano, as well as a chamber cantata for male voice and reduced jazz ensemble. The SJO will also perform traditional and contemporary works for jazz ensemble. Tickets can be purchased online at https://broadwaytheatre.ca/events?p=event&event=3524 or directly at the Broadway Theatre. This concert will be a prime example of the SJO’s vision to present traditional and modern jazz perspectives.